At a gaming convention in 2012, board game designer asked mathematician Eric Harshbarger if he could create dice to determine the first player without any ties. The goal was to expedite the game’s start. Harshbarger, a mathematician at Auburn University, found the challenge appealing due to its non-obvious nature.
After years of collaboration with computer scientists and mathematicians globally, Harshbarger and his team devised a set of 12-sided dice for two, three, and four players to ensure a fair outcome. However, creating dice for five players proved more complex. Eventually, a researcher in Australia suggested using five 120-sided dice, leading to a breakthrough.
Canadian software engineer Paul Meyer later proposed using five 60-sided dice, which was successfully verified by Harshbarger. The dice are now available for purchase, designed to guarantee fairness in determining the first player. Ongoing research explores the feasibility of fewer sides for a five-player set and potential expansion to six players.
Harshbarger emphasizes the solidity of the mathematical principles behind the dice’s design, despite manufacturing imperfections that may influence outcomes. The research group continues to seek innovative solutions, acknowledging the possibility of unexpected contributions, similar to Meyer’s unexpected breakthrough.